A PLAN to build a new pumping station to stop sewage from entering the River Severn during major flooding should be approved when councillors meet next week, a report has recommended.

Severn Trent Water has put forward plans to build a replacement sewage pumping station in New Street in Upton to prevent the current station, which it says could no longer cope during floods, from overflowing into flood water and entering the River Severn.

Worcestershire County Council’s planning committee meets next Tuesday (July 7) with a recommendation from its planning officers that the plan is given the go-ahead.

The new station would be built near to the existing flood defences and an Environment Agency storage tank off New Street.

Severn Trent said the existing pumping cannot currently pump the water out if it did flood meaning sewage could then enter the flood water and into the River Severn causing a health hazard.

The station would also have a storm overflow to collect water during extremely bad weather and a new wall would be put in place so it does not affect the strength of the existing flood defence.

Upton frequently floods whenever heavy storms hit the county and was hit particularly bad during major flooding earlier this year and in 2007 and 2014.

Conservation officers at Malvern Hills District Council said they approved of the plan in principle but objected to the amount of concrete and hardstanding that was planned to be used.

Officers also said walls and hand railings should be more sympathetic to the character town’s conservation area as well as nearby listed buildings.

County councillor Paul Middlebrough said he supported the plan but felt the design was “austere.”

Upton Town Council said it had some reservations about the design and visual impact of the new pumping station but ultimately said it would like to see the plan approved to better protect the town.

The county council’s planning committee meets virtually from 10am next Tuesday.